By 2025, China is expected to house over 1 million inhabitants in 221 cities – news which will bring the urban population up to 1 billion and pose both an insurance opportunity and a challenge. Natural risks One of China’s major challenges is their vulnerability to natural threats; especially as two of China’s megacities (Beijing and Tianjin) are defenseless against earthquakes. In fact, since 1965, some of the world’s most expensive natural disasters have struck China. This figure has greatly affected insurance statistics. Many believe that China will undoubtedly become a major catastrophe zone for the reinsurance industry after the European windstorm, the USA wind and quake and the Japanese wind and quake. When costs from rebuilding the Sichuan province after the 2008 earthquake are factored in, China’s megacities could become more of a challenge especially as there’s more than one concern to worry about with floods and typhoons also high risk in these areas. Population Current figures show the proportion of urban residents to China’s total population to be 53.7%, which is lower than the typical developed nations. Over a span of 10 years, the government hopes to push this figure up to 70%. Placing a mass of individuals in one urban space poses numerous challenges. There must be sufficient resources to move people from A to B and enough assets to go around. Urban planning and durable buildings are just one consideration to factor into the equation. Infrastructure Engineering and technological expertise are also expected to play a hugepart in tomorrow’s big cities. Optimists see a new network of powerful, stable and prosperous city states and in 2010, China surpassed the USA as the world’s principal car market so transportation will be one of the top assets to focus on. In 2013 alone, the number of cars sold reached a figure of over 20 million. Other investments must focus their attentions on underground subways and high-speed rail, as well as alternative mass transport devices. Many of these groundwork projects are already taking place and in 2012 the government sanctioned 25 new subway projects investing over $127 billion in the process. Natural resources One of the major challenges China is facing is the tension on natural resources, such as water. With precipitation at less than half the usual levels, Henan in central China is currently suffering from a...

When travelling abroad, I’m often shocked by the sheer rudeness of people who find it perfectly acceptable to skip queues, stare and burp loudly in restaurants! Although I’ve always found my fellow Brits to be a polite and well-mannered bunch, I can’t help but wonder whether our perception of politeness or fairness is somehow skewed. Just recently the Fairtrade Foundation posed the question: “How Fair are you?” with an interactive test to help raise awareness of producers in developing countries and to promote sustainability. For me, unfairness is much more than just skipping the queue or barging past others to get where I’m going: it’s about an inward looking, self-centred point of view which is unconcerned with the welfare of others. Politeness, on the other hand, is a way of measuring fairness which is a good indication of a considerate person. According to Fairtrade, 76% of us Brits are considered fair but we can still do so more to help others, particularly those working in developing countries. For example, by making a conscious effort to buy Fairtrade produce, like coffee, you are helping to make the world a more fairer and better place to...

By 2025, China is expected to house over 1 million inhabitants in 221 cities – news which will bring the urban population up to 1 billion and pose both an insurance opportunity and a challenge. Natural risks One of China’s major challenges is their vulnerability to natural threats; especially as two of China’s megacities (Beijing and Tianjin) are defenseless against earthquakes. In fact, since 1965, some of the world’s most expensive...

When travelling abroad, I’m often shocked by the sheer rudeness of people who find it perfectly acceptable to skip queues, stare and burp loudly in restaurants! Although I’ve always found my fellow Brits to be a polite and well-mannered bunch, I can’t help but wonder whether our perception of politeness or fairness is somehow skewed. Just recently the Fairtrade Foundation posed the question: “How Fair are...

Legendary comedic actor and screenwriter Dan Aykroyd was born on July 1, 1952 in Ottawa. His French Canadian mother, Lorraine Gougon Aykroyd, worked as a secretary, and his father, Peter Aykroyd, was a civil engineer who worked as a policy adviser to Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. He has a younger brother named Peter. Aykroyd grew up in the Catholic Church in Ottawa, and until the age of seventeen, he was interested in...

The veteran Hollywood actor Mickey Rooney has died at the age of 93, police in Los Angeles have said. Rooney, whose career began as a child star in the 1930s, had been ill for some time, US entertainment media said. Los Angeles Police Commander Andrew Smith said that Rooney was with his family when he died on Sunday at his North Hollywood home. Mr Smith said there were no suspicious circumstances. Rooney was born Joe Yule Jr on...

Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka said he did not believe he was good enough to win a Grand Slam. The Swiss, 28, beat world number one Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3 in Sunday’s final in Melbourne. He is the first man outside the ‘big four’ of Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray to win a major since Juan Martin Del Potro in 2009. “I never expected to win a Grand Slam because, for me, I...

Brendan Rodgers says Chelsea’s deal to secure transfer of Mohamed Salah is not yet complete and Liverpool are still hoping to persuade Egypt international to move to Merseyside. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says he has not given up hope of securing the transfer of Mohamed Salah from Basle. Chelsea announced on Thursday that a deal had been agreed for the Egypt international to move to London, with a £12 million fee that...